Legal Beagles, a Silent Minority: Therapeutic Effects of Facility Dogs in the Courtroom

Abstract

Ellie, Molly, Rosie, and Jeeter are just a few of the hard working staff that we are beginning to see around the country’s courthouses. Although they do not speak a word or make a sound these working dogs silently provide emotional support to the fearful witness as they testify. Facility dogs, as they are called, are being brought into the courtroom to assist the prosecution and reluctant witnesses bring the defendants to justice. This form of therapeutic jurisprudence is proving to be an enhancement of the psychological wellbeing of clients of the prosecution.

Keywords: Therapeutice Jurisprudence, comprehensive law paractices, facility dog, emotional support, testifying witness, courtroom dogs, assist prosecution, reluctant witness, specialized court programs